Should Dead Rose Blooms Be Trimmed?

Don't remove an entire dead rose bloom if you want rose hips.

Rose bushes (Rosa) in full bloom form a lovely centerpiece in your garden, but once the flowers start to wilt, even the best-kept rose bush can look scraggly. Trimming the dead flowers, or dead-heading, makes the plant look much neater and can spur further blooming. However, removing the whole flower prevents hips from forming.

Blossoms Only

Rose bushes grown only for their blossoms do need to be deadheaded once the flowers have died. One obvious reason is that the dead flowers make the plant look unkempt, but you can also get certain varieties of roses, such as floribunda, to rebloom if you take off the dead flowers. Removing dead flowers also prevents the decaying matter from falling to the ground and providing a home for pests. The amount you take off varies according to the type and health of the rose bush, but generally, you’d look for a five- or seven-leaflet grouping below the bloom and cut there.

Rose Hips

If you’re planning on harvesting rose hips from the plant, don’t deadhead the rose bush. Pull off the wilted petals by hand and let the rest of the flower gradually turn into a rose hip, which is a small fruit used in cakes, syrups and tea. Do be cautious, though; avoid using hips from plants on which pesticides were used, and remove the seeds and tiny hairs from inside the hips, which are irritating.

About the Author

Suzanne S. Wiley is an editor and writer in Southern California. She has been editing since 1989 and began writing in 2009. Wiley received her master's degree from the University of Texas and her work appears on various websites.